DRABCDE

Question 1

D

Answer 1

DANGER
• If there is danger it must be addressed before approaching.
• Danger to oneself, crew, patient, and public
• do you need assistance? (Police, Staff, Crew, Public, Fire, HART, etc)

Question 2

R

Answer 2

RESPONSE
• Is the patient responsive?
• AVPU?
• If no, do you need assistance?

Question 3

A

Answer 3

AIRWAY

• Look – airway obstruction, chest rise/movements, cyanosis, positioning
• Feel – breath, chest rise

•Listen – present?, breath
sounds (present?, stridor, wheeze, agonal)

• Measure – None
• Treat – Airway manoeuvres, adjuncts, suction, FBAO guidelines (p.50-51)

Question 4

B

Answer 4

Breathing –
• Look – rate rhythm, depth, SOB, resp distress, acc muscles, cyanosis, pursed lips, gasping, position, eq. bi-lat chest rise

• Feel – tracheal dev, symmetrical chest expansion, change in percussion note
• Listen – BBSE, Stridor, adventitious sounds (wheezes, creps, pleural rub)
• Measure – RR (12-20), SpO2 (>=95%), ETCO2 (4-5.7kPa, 30-43mmHg).
• Treat – O2, Manoeuvres (head tilt chin lift, jaw thrust), Adjuncts (nasopharyngeal, oropharyngeal), Assisted vents (Bag Valve Mask), Intubation (Endotracheal), Supraglottic airway

Question 5

C

Answer 5

CIRCULATION
• Look – pallor, diaphoresis, raised JVP, cyanosis, signs of haemorrhage

• Feel – warm to touch, pulse (rate (60-100BPM), rhythm (regular?), character (thready vs bounding)
• Listen – Heart sounds
• Measure – HR (Rate, rhythm, character), BP (>90 sys), Central cap refil (

Question 6

D

Answer 6

DISABILITY
GCS,
PERRLAC,
BM (4-7mmol), Medical history that may affect this?

Question 7

E

Answer 7

Expose/Examine
• Top to toe examination
• Obvious signs of injury 
• Scars
• Pacemaker
• Medical Alert Jewellery
• Consider temp and dignity!

Question 8

Things to remember

Answer 8

• Continually reasses
• Consider calling for help at each stage
• Dont move on the next stage unless you are happy with the one you are on
• Move on to secodnary examination once complete, but re-assess all the time